Kenwood Navigation or Pioneer Navigation

[chiefs5652]

Hey guys and gals,

Im looking to purchase a in dash navigation for my altima coupe. Im looking at the Pioneers and the kenwoods..Any suggestions???? I want to put it in ASAP so help would be great!!1

[AppleBonker]

Hey guys and gals,

Im looking to purchase a in dash navigation for my altima coupe. Im looking at the Pioneers and the kenwoods..Any suggestions???? I want to put it in ASAP so help would be great!!1

I think most would agree that right now the Kenwoods are the better option. How much of a budget do you have for this?

[chiefs5652]

Thanks for responding... I was looking at the Kenwood 5120, best bu y is going to match the price of amazon which is 575 if i were to bring it there to install. But i also want the bluetooth feature put in. I know the 8120 is the top of the line but it is also 1200. I fooled around with both the 5120, 8120 and some of the pioneer stuff. You're right the kenwoods are better. But as for my budget, id say after installation, around $700-800.. Thanks for responding buddy. What do you think on this situation??

[AppleBonker]

Thanks for responding... I was looking at the Kenwood 5120, best bu y is going to match the price of amazon which is 575 if i were to bring it there to install. But i also want the bluetooth feature put in. I know the 8120 is the top of the line but it is also 1200. I fooled around with both the 5120, 8120 and some of the pioneer stuff. You're right the kenwoods are better. But as for my budget, id say after installation, around $700-800.. Thanks for responding buddy. What do you think on this situation??

The 8120 is definitely a nice model. However, the 5120 is also solid. For your budget, I'd say the 5120 would be a good buy. I'd have to look, but I'm pretty sure there is someone on here running a 5120 who is happy with it.

[rjdmmfl1]

there are a number of reasons that you should NOT go to best buy and have this installed. I have a really nice write up on this, and would be more than happy to walk you through the install when it comes time to do it...

regarding the kenwood vs pioneer.... if you search, I have answered this question a number of times... the Kenwood units, pound per pound, are superior to the pioneer units... and the F series Pioneer units have too many bugs!

[AppleBonker]

best bu y is going to match the price of amazon which is 575 if i were to bring it there to install.

there are a number of reasons that you should NOT go to best buy and have this installed. I have a really nice write up on this, and would be more than happy to walk you through the install when it comes time to do it...

Wow, once again reading>me. Not sure how I missed this one, but definitely do not have BB install anything in your car. You are almost guaranteed that something would be messed up.

[chiefs5652]

thanks everyone for all your help..I will most likely end up purchasing the 5120 with the bluetooth adapter. Ill put picks up later this week because im installing 6000k HID lights, tail lights overlays. Rims will go on after the winter here, NY is the place to be except for the snow!!!

[losenone]

thanks everyone for all your help..I will most likely end up purchasing the 5120 with the bluetooth adapter. Ill put picks up later this week because im installing 6000k HID lights, tail lights overlays. Rims will go on after the winter here, NY is the place to be except for the snow!!!

Ill agree with you on that lol. And ill assume youve lived in massapequa for a while mr chiefs

[martymcfly1]

Dear AppleBonker,

I am a former native of the Bridgport area, now living in Bourbonnais. I was curious if you could answer a few questions concerning the Pioneer F90Bt and the DNX5120. Both of which have the cd insert on the face of the HU and that is what I like. I am conerned about the 5120 though. It has superior Navi but has limited connection options. Such as, the Ipod adapter takes up the only USB. This wouldn't be that bad but there is no forward facing SD input. Where as the Pioneer has multiple Aux inputs.

Any advice?

Thanks, MartyMcFly.

[rjdmmfl1]

NY is the place to be except for the snow!!!

The only folks that feel that way are folks that have never lived in SOCAL... if you like stinky subways and streets, SNOW, RAIN, cold weather, then yeah, NY is the place to be... If you like none of the above... SOCAL ALL DAY!!!

Dear AppleBonker,

I am a former native of the Bridgport area, now living in Bourbonnais. I was curious if you could answer a few questions concerning the Pioneer F90Bt and the DNX5120. Both of which have the cd insert on the face of the HU and that is what I like. I am conerned about the 5120 though. It has superior Navi but has limited connection options. Such as, the Ipod adapter takes up the only USB. This wouldn't be that bad but there is no forward facing SD input. Where as the Pioneer has multiple Aux inputs.

Any advice?

Thanks, MartyMcFly.

I think you answered your own question. Sure Kenwood only has one USB input, but that allows it to have faster user interface than the Pioneer units regarding ipod.

The Kenwood unit alsi has an A/V input on the front, just like the F90bt., but no, it doesn't have a SD slot.

Also, the Kenwood allows you to customize the background color of the unit for a more OEM look. Not sure if this is available on the F90Bt

Lastly, there are still bugs and issues getting straightened out with the F90bt series!

[AppleBonker]

All I can do is echo Doc on this one. The Kenwood has much better quality at this point than the other options in my opinion. Again, with the current known bugs in the Pioneer units, I would be worried to go with them over the Kenwood. There are a number of members on here using the Kenwood that are happy (and some using the big brother to that model - the 8120). Anyone who has one of the newer Pioneer units has complained a bit about it, so based on that I'd stay away from the Pio for now. If they every get all the bugs worked out, I may change my tune.

[notaverage]

Thanks, MartyMcFly.

Tell the doc, I want the 4th back to the future to use the GTR

[iammai]

Also, the Kenwood allows you to customize the background color of the unit for a more OEM look. Not sure if this is available on the F90bt

The Pioneer is supposed to do 32,768 customizable illumination colors for perfect dash color matching. Illumination is cool but the bugs still overshadow all the cool displays and built in features.

[Electric Magma]

The Pioneer is supposed to do 32,768 customizable illumination colors for perfect dash color matching. Illumination is cool but the bugs still overshadow all the cool displays and built in features.

My JVC had that... it was a pain in the ***

Didn't match worth ****. the color matched was waaay to hard to see

[rjdmmfl1]

The Pioneer is supposed to do 32,768 customizable illumination colors for perfect dash color matching. Illumination is cool but the bugs still overshadow all the cool displays and built in features.

yes, pioneer's Avic D3 was the 1st in the pioneer line up wit this feature... very easy to access and set...

then, kenwood's DNX 5120 ofered the exact same thing.. also very easy to access and set

[fyrcomm]

The only folks that feel that way are folks that have never lived in SOCAL... if you like stinky subways and streets, SNOW, RAIN, cold weather, then yeah, NY is the place to be... If you like none of the above... SOCAL ALL DAY!!!

sometimes the weather here messes with my head though! this morning it was raining, and now it's hot...

anyways, i was in the same boat when i was shopping for my head unit... i played with the pioneer and i liked it better at the time, but since so many people (including the guys at the audio shop) said that there were so many bugs with it, i got the kenwood instead... i've had it for a month and I'm happy with my decision. I've had no problems with it whatsoever.. it does what it's supposed to do (you just gotta shell out a little more for the bluetooth adapter)

[snatraps99]

Hey man, I saw that you have a nice write up on the install of a DVD head unit, is that correct? If so I would love to check it out. By the way... you in SoCal? I am in LA (Hollywood area)--Ryan

[rjdmmfl1]

Hey man, I saw that you have a nice write up on the install of a DVD head unit, is that correct? If so I would love to check it out. By the way... you in SoCal? I am in LA (Hollywood area)--Ryan

Do you mean check out my unit or check out the install write up. The install write up is on the Table of Content page... listed as Pioneer Avic D3 install...

if you want to see my particular unit, you should come down to San Diego on the 13th of Dec for our NICO-SOCAL end of the year car meet / Bar B Que!

Check here for more info...

[snatraps99]

I actually have the Kenwood 5120. I would rather install the thing myself and save myself the $200 bucks or so. But I am not sure if I am capable of doing it. AND... I want to be able to play DVD's while the car is moving...

[rjdmmfl1]

I actually have the Kenwood 5120. I would rather install the thing myself and save myself the $200 bucks or so. But I am not sure if I am capable of doing it. AND... I want to be able to play DVD's while the car is moving...

the install is not diffcult, as long as you have everything you need... i.e.

1. Factory radio wiring harness adapter2. double din dash kit3. radio antenna adapter

that's pretty much it, other than the normal (pillips head screwdriver, wire crimp tool, wire strippers, wire connectors or electrical tape)

You can look at my write up and try to do the install yourself, or you can come down to the meet on the 13th and I'll help you install it then!

[snatraps99]

I have all the items and tools... Where is your "write-up"? I assume to install a Pioneer is the same as installing a Kenwood... I will try to make it down on the 13th. But as I am all giddy and excited, I would like to install this sooner rather than later! haha!

[dimitrinassis001]

So from what I understand the kenwood is the better choice and it will match the oem colours (canadain spelling) and does not have bugs like the pioneer but what about the steering controlls? Will I be able to use the source, track and volume switches with the kenwood?

[rjdmmfl1]

So from what I understand the kenwood is the better choice and it will match the oem colours (canadain spelling) and does not have bugs like the pioneer but what about the steering controlls? Will I be able to use the source, track and volume switches with the kenwood?

yes... please read the FAQ's